Adelaide residents are being urged not to release koi carp or unwanted goldfish into the River Torrens. More than a dozen suspected koi were seen at Hackney last week, with a smaller number upstream at Dernancourt. Green Adelaide suspects members of the public released the fish. Koi are a noxious species in South Australia and cannot be owned without a permit. Dumping koi, goldfish or other non-native fish in South Australian rivers can attract fines of up to $120,000. Green Adelaide says koi compete with native fish for food and disturb river plants.
Federal parliament debated the impact of invasive species on Australia's native wildlife. Senator David Pocock called for a long-term plan to protect landscapes and wildlife, while Senator Mehreen Faruqi criticised the term 'invasive'. Ecologists argue that controlling invasive species is crucial to preventing native species extinction and preserving ecosystems. Successful conservation efforts, such as those for the numbat, demonstrate the importance of managing invasive predators.
A biosecurity lockdown has started across several inner west Sydney suburbs to fight deadly fire ants. The measures began on Monday and cover a 2km radius around a freight facility in Strathfield, where a nest was found five weeks ago. Businesses in the area must now have a biosecurity plan, with strict controls on moving high-risk materials such as turf, mulch, soil and potted plants. Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty says breaches made knowingly could bring fines of up to $1 million for individuals and $2 million for businesses.
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A community Holly Task Force in Hepburn Shire is urging residents to pull up small holly seedlings while the ground is wet. Task Force member Annie Dennis said holly is a priority weed, rated higher risk than blackberry on Victoria's advisory list of environmental weeds. Birds spread holly seeds into the forest, and townships and roads act as sources. Work is under way in Trentham and Bullarto to remove holly, and Melbourne Water offers a grant scheme for landholders. Task Force members will attend the Daylesford Show on November 28 to offer advice and mapping.
In 1859, pastoralist Thomas Austin released around two dozen wild and domestic rabbits on his estate near Geelong. The animals spread across the continent and grew to plague proportions, damaging pastures and threatening more than 300 native species. Biocontrol viruses, first released by CSIRO scientists in the 1950s, have helped cut numbers, but resistance has developed. Sharp rises in rabbit numbers have recently been reported. Researchers are now developing new virus variants and studying longer-term options, with control methods combined for lasting results.
Greater Sydney Parklands has responded after a video of a woman carrying a large carp away from a pond at Centennial Park went viral. The clip, filmed by a bystander, has drawn mixed reactions, with some viewers criticising the fishing and others praising the removal of an invasive species. A spokesperson said fishing is not permitted in the parklands to protect water quality, wildlife and visitor safety, and that rangers patrol the ponds. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development says captured carp should be killed humanely and used where possible, rather than returned to the water.
Traditional owners say washing cars before entering K'gari could help preserve the island's World Heritage status. The Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation's biosecurity strategy, launched earlier this year, received an award from Landcare Australia. Its director, Chris Royan, said urgent action is needed to stop invasive species reaching the island. A Queensland University of Technology analysis estimated the strategy would cost between $500,000 and $2.5 million a year. The Queensland government said it has no current plans for mandatory biosecurity checkpoints.
Introduced animals are not intrinsically harmful, according to an analysis of how Australians judge them. Species such as rabbits, cats, camels and cattle were deliberately brought to the continent and initially valued for their uses. They are now labelled pests once they become too successful. It suggests that responses could focus on practical action rather than moral judgement, pointing to methods used by First Nations groups to manage camels and cats.
Invasive red fire ants have been found in a container yard at the Enfield Intermodal Logistics Centre in Strathfield, Sydney. The ants were hidden under concrete near a shipping container. The NSW government has deployed a team to search for more nests over the next two weeks and is urging the public to co-operate. Fire ants have a painful, burning sting that can cause severe allergic reactions. Anyone who suspects fire ants should photograph them from a safe distance and report them. Bite victims should seek medical attention if prone to allergic reactions and apply ice to ease swelling.
Authorities are moving to eradicate a nest of red imported fire ants found at the Enfield Intermodal Centre in Sydney's inner west. Biosecurity officers believe the ants arrived from overseas in a shipping container. The nest was treated quickly to stop an infestation from taking hold. Properties within 500 metres of the freight facility will be inspected, and no further ants have been found so far. NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said fire ants can be eradicated in the state. The Invasive Species Council warned the pest could cost the economy up to $2 billion a year.
A nest of red imported fire ants has been found and treated at the Enfield Intermodal Logistics Centre in Sydney's inner west. Authorities believe the ants arrived from overseas in a shipping container. NSW Biosecurity has begun door-to-door inspections and surveillance within a two-kilometre radius, though no further ants have been detected. Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said the government will work with local businesses and residents over the next two weeks. Landholders and nurseries receiving goods from Sydney are urged to check deliveries for suspicious earth mounds.
A nest of red imported fire ants has been detected at the Enfield Intermodal Centre in Sydney's inner west. Genetic testing confirmed the species, which is likely to have arrived from overseas in a shipping container. The nest has been treated, and properties within 500 metres of the freight facility will be inspected. NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said no further ants have been found. The Invasive Species Council warned the pest could cost the Australian economy up to $2 billion a year.
A colony of invasive red fire ants has been found at a shipyard in Strathfield, in Sydney's Inner West. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry entomologists located the nest after a monitoring lure was triggered. It was hidden beneath concrete near a shipping container, which officials believe the ants arrived in. The ants are not believed to be linked to the southern Queensland infestation. The NSW Government has deployed a team to search nearby businesses, homes and public sites over two weeks. Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said the aim is to identify and eradicate any spread quickly.
A nest of red imported fire ants has been detected at the Enfield Intermodal Centre in Sydney's inner west. Genetic testing confirmed the species, which is likely to have arrived from overseas in a shipping container. The nest has been treated, and properties within 500 metres of the freight facility will be inspected. NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said no further ants have been found. The Invasive Species Council warned the pest could cost the Australian economy up to $2 billion a year.
Red imported fire ants have likely spread beyond a freight and warehousing facility at Enfield in Sydney's inner west, authorities say. A nest was discovered at the site last month after Commonwealth officers found the insects in a detection lure on September 25. Their sting causes a painful burning sensation and can lead to swelling, itchy blisters and pustules. Genetic tests suggest the ants arrived from overseas in a container, not from south-east Queensland. Detection dogs found no other nests, and treatment and surveillance are underway within a 2 kilometre radius.
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The Invasive Species Council has welcomed a draft national strategy to tackle feral foxes, which the federal government has released for public consultation. The draft would replace a plan dating from 2008. Rewilding Manager Rob Brewster said foxes have helped drive native animals to extinction and continue to prey on threatened mammals, birds and reptiles. He called for an ambitious final plan backed by funding for sustained control on the ground. The draft Threat Abatement Plan for predation by European red foxes is currently open for consultation.
Alex Nelson says termites are increasingly eating buffel grass, a plant he has watched for almost three decades. He says termites avoid buffel grass killed with glyphosate, and dry grass left standing may not be eaten for several years. He says it is unclear whether the insects are repelled by chemical residues or respond to a lack of physical disturbance. Jessica Burdon of LandscapeSA says Nelson has worked on buffel control since soon after the grass was planted. She says he hand weeds buffel grass and lays it on the ground so termites and other creatures can consume it.
The Arid Lands Environment Centre (ALEC) in Alice Springs is urging nationwide action against buffel grass, a weed spreading across central Australia. While South Australia and the Northern Territory have declared it a weed, other states and the federal government have not, despite acknowledging its threat to native ecosystems. It highlights successful local efforts, such as Valmai's manual removal in New Eastside, but calls for a national coordinator and strategic plan to combat the weed effectively.
